Roma complete €20m signing of Xhaha from Arsenal

Carlo Garganese

• 9 Jun 2021 15:40 BST
• 3 min read

AS Roma have completed the signing of Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka.

The Switzerland midfielder becomes the first arrival of the Jose Mourinho era at Roma.

The transfer fee is believed to be in the region of €20 million, including add-ons.

Xhaka has penned a four-year deal at the Stadio Olimpico worth around €2.5m a season.

Xhaka's Arsenal career

The 28-year-old spent five years with the Gunners, having arrived in north London from Borussia Monchengladbach for around €40m in 2016.

He has gone on to make 220 appearances for the club, scoring 13 goals.

During that time he won two FA Cups, two Community Shields and also was a runner-up in the 2019 Europa League.

A combative player, Xhaka often split the fans in north London – with some admiring his commitment and others critical of his aggressive nature.

Settle in and enjoy... 🍿

Here's every Micki goal for us so far!
#ASRoma 🟨⚽️🟥 @HenrikhMkh pic.twitter.com/0M9Rx0OwBg

— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) June 8, 2021

Requested by Jose Mourinho

He was specifically requested by Roma’s new coach Mourinho, who has been a long-term admirer of the player and has tried to sign him on more than one occasion in the past.

"Xhaka is the main man in the entire Arsenal midfield, you can't see it unless I lend you one of my eyes," Mourinho said of the player two years ago.

"Without him, Arsenal is lost. He is a leader. Remember, mistakes are made by humans."

Having missed out on primary midfield target Emiliano Buendia, Arsenal are in the market for a couple of midfielders this summer.

This includes a replacement for Xhaka, with Wolves’ Ruben Neves on Mikel Arteta’s shortlist, and also there is the intention to sign Martin Odegaard permanently after his successful loan spell.

As for Xhaka, he is a key player for Switzerland in their Euro 2020 campaign as his country takes on Wales, Italy and Turkey in Group A.